BREAKING | Gen. Stephen Buay abandons Malong, forms new rebel group

JUBA — South Sudan’s former army commander General Stephen Buay Rolonyang has left South Sudan United Front/Army led by former army chief General Paul Malong Awan and formed his own rebel group.

General Buay named the new rebel group South Sudan Patriotic Movement/Army (SSPM/A) and will work to remove President Salva Kiir Mayardit from power, according to a statement extended to Sudans Post.

“Considering this political instability in the country, we the officers of the SSPDF, national security and other organized forces support the declaration of the people’s coalition for civil action and hereby announce to the people of South Sudan that we have taken up arms against the regime under the name South Sudan patriotic movement/Army(SSPM/A),and we ask all armed citizens in South Sudan to join us and fight for the regime change,” General Stephen Buay said in a statement extended to Sudans Post.

He said he and members of his group will form an opposition alliance under the leadership of General Simon Gatwech Dual to fight for change of the regime in South Sudan.

“We will form alliance with the other holdout armed groups in SSOMA and SPLM/A-IO splinter group under General Simon Gatwech Dual to fight for the regime change in the country,” he added.

General Stephen Buay joined Malong in May this year months after being stripped of his ranks any dismissed from active military service. He fled Juba and then joined General Paul Malong Awan who restored his rank before promoting him to the rank of Lieutenant General.

Last week, in an audio published by journalist Tor Madira, General Stephen Buay Rolnyang urged Nuer to forgive and to not mix politics with community hatred that has been developed between the Nuer and the Dinka.